28th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival

ji-hlavadok-revuecdfEmerging producersInspiration Forum
Mothers

Mothers

director: Elina Hyvärinen
original title: Äidit
country: Finland
year: 2012
running time: 9 min.

synopsis

As soft as dandelion hair and as freezing as the north wind, this poetic black-and-white film – consisting of archival footage of the harsh rural landscape, the chiaroscuro of simple dwelling, and of local people during everyday life and marriage feasts – is accompanied by the profound mystery of birth, an experience during which a woman becomes a mother and the space above the clouds is open wide.

Images of old women’s faces. “How did they do it? How did they do it? They gave birth on floorboards in the sauna or in bed. Did they try not to scream, so the others wouldn’t hear? Did they feel ashamed? Perhaps they cried and got splinters under their nails. Were they afraid they might die?”

more about film

director: Elina Hyvärinen
producer: Elina Hyvärinen
editing: Helena Öst
Ministerstvo kultury
Fond kinematografie
Creative Europe Media
Město Jihlava
Kraj Vysočina
GEMO
Česká televize
Český rozhlas
Aktuálně.cz
Respekt
Dafilms